Keyhole-guard.



R E L P P U R m S P P 4M 1 9 1 a ll mv A0 N m E Ln mm; mm T A 0 I L P P A Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS 50.. FHOTO-LITHa, WASHINGTON, D. C.

KEYHOLE-GUARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915 Application filedNovember 18, 1914. Serial N 0. 872,724.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER FRANoIs STRUIPLER, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Scranton, in the county of Lackawannaand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyhole-Guards, of which the following is 'a specification.

This invention relates to the general class of locks and latches and it has particular reference to guards for key holes and the like, the said invention being primarily intended for use in guarding key or plug openings of switches or boxes for the ignition control on motor vehicles.

An object of this invention is to provide novel means for guarding or closing an opening in a switch box or casing, intended for a key, plug or other element, utilized for establishing acircuit or for turning or controlling elements or parts of a switch box by which the circuits are controlled, the said invention being applicable to switch boxes and cases now in common use without material change therein and enabling the user of such motor vehicle, through the application of a device embodying the invention, to safeguard his motor vehicle fromunauthorized appropriation or use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide alock or guard of the character indicated which can be readily applied to or removed from the switch box or casing, the parts of the invention being so compactly assembled that they occupy comparatively little space, permitting their incasement so that the finished product when applied to the switch box or casing will be ornamental rather than disfiguring; the said invention proving comparatively inexpensive to manufacture as well as efficient and satisfactory in use.

WVith the foregoing and other objects, in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts vin the several views, and in which Figure 1 illustrates a face view of a fragment of a switch box or casing showing the invention in elevation applied thereto; Fig.

2 illustrates a vertical sectional view of a fragment of a switch box or casing and a 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 illustrates a sectional view on a line corresponding with the line 6 6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 illustrates a'perspective view of a guard embodying a slight modification; Fig. 8 illustrates a sectional view of a fragment of a key or plug socket tobe used in connectionwith the fastening deviceshown' in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 illustrates a view inelevation, partly in section, showing a modified casing adapted for use on switch boxes or caseshaving projecting faces.

In these drawings 10 denotes-a switch box i or casing provided with an illustration in dotted lines showing the keyor plug socket 11 controlled by the guard embodying the invention, the said guard comprising a casing 12 with a key hole 13, which key hole leads or alines with a key barrel 14 rotatable in the casing 12. As shown in Fig. 4, the key barrel is provided with a longitudinal slot 15 at its outer end, the said slot being designed for the reception of lugs 16 on the key 17, the said key being of such configuration as to enter the key hole 13 and barrel 14, so that in turning the key, the b arrel'will be partially rotated. In addition to the functionof the barrel 14 as a member-to be i actuated by the key, the said key barrel serves as a spacer for the outer and inner faces or plates of the casing.

In the construction of the present embodiment of the invention, the inner plate 18 has a flange which extends into the housing or casing proper and the flange may be secured to the housing or casing in any appropriate manner as by'the fastenings 19..

The inner plate 18 has an aperture 20 from which an arm 21 projects, thesaid arm having a plain or fiat lower surface 22 and a curved upper surface 23, the latter of which is on the arc of a circle of which a retaining bolt, to be hereinafter described, is a part. The arm 21, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 2 and 3 has a lug 24 adapted to enter and form an anchorage in an aperture 25 produced in any suitable.

manner in the casing or housing constituting the key switch hole or plug socket of any ordinary switch box or casing. It is to be understood, in this connection, that the invention is applicable for use in guarding any aperture, socket or member which receives an implement or is adapted to coact with an implement or device for controlling the circuit or turning a switch plug adapted to control such circuit. Therefore, any such device may be provided with means for the anchorage of the guard which would prevent the application of such an implement or instrument to the switch box or casing.

Coacting with the arm 21 is a filling block or bolt 26 slidable in the casing and adapted to be locked against movement until the key is turned to release the bolt retaining member. To that end, the bolt 26 has a transversely disposed shoulder 27 formed by reducing the said bolt and the reduced portion of the said bolt is encircled by a spring 28 which bears with one end against the inner surface of the plate 18 and with the other end against the said shoulder 27. The purpose or function of the spring 28 is to retain the bolt normally projected in the position in which it is seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing, in which position, the arm 21 is free to be applied to or removed from the aperture or socket of a switch box or casing. The bolt 26 is furthermore provided with a notch or seat 29 which is entered by a detent or latch 80 for the purpose of retaining the said bolt in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, in which position, the inner end of the bolt is parallel and in engagement with the arm 21 filling the socket to which the arm is applied and preventing the dislodgment of the lug or pin 25 from the seat produced for its reception. The detent 30 is mounted on a stud or pivot 31 anchored to the inner wall of the face plate of the casing and the said stud is encircled by a spring 32 which bears against the detent and presses it normally toward the bolt so that the said detent will automatically spring into the slot or recess 29 formed in the said bolt when it is pressed into the housing or casing.

Fig. 5 shows the latch or detent as having an extension or nose 33 which is in the path of travel of the tumbler or lug 16 formed on the key and, therefore, as the key is turned, that portion of the latch which has entered the recess 29 will be moved therefrom to release the bolt and owing to the pressure of the spring 28'on the bolt, it is automatically retracted and the end thereof which had previously cooperated with the arm 21 to retain the guard in place will be withdrawn so that clearance will be had within a socket for the removal of the lug 25 from its seat and for the removal of the guard.

From an inspection of the drawing and from the foregoing description, it will be apparent that when a switch box or case has been supplied with means for the engagement of the lug of the arm, the guard may be readily applied by simply inserting the arm in the socket or opening intended for theordinary switch key or socket with the said lug applied to its seat after which pressure on the outer end of the bolt 26 will force the said bolt into cooperating relation and engagement with the said arm for retaining the guard in place, the said bolt being held in its innermost position by the latch, the construction and function of which has been described. It will also be apparent from the foregoing description and from an inspection of the drawing that by inserting the key in the key barrel and turning the same, the latch will be caused to release the bolt and it (the bolt) will automatically be retracted so that the guard may be removed.

As a means for preventing undue rotation or movement of the key barrel, the said key barrel is provided with a pin or lug 3 which will engage either of the pins 35 or 36 according to the direction of rotation of the key barrel but it is obvious from an inspection of Fig. 6 that the said key barrel cannot be rotated beyond the limits of the said pins 35 and 36.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I illustrate a modification of the anchorage for the arm of the casing and in this form, the arm 37 has a segmental lug 38 adapted to enter a circumferential groove 89 formed in the barrel or housing constituting the switch key hole or plug socket. This embodiment of the invention may be found desirable under certain conditions, especially where it is more convenient to form the groove than it is to produce the seat for a pin or stud.

In Fig. 9, I illustrate another modification, the same embodying a casing 40 adapted to contain the locking mechanism heretofore described, but in this form, the casing has an annular flange 41 extending inwardly from its inner edge and adapted to engage the outer face of a switch box or casing having a projecting boss in which the key hole switch socket is formed. This simple provision will obviate movement of the guard and will afford stable anchorage therefor. The flange may be varied in depth according to requirements and is illustrated in connection with one form of projecting boss.

I claim 1. In a guard for key holes, a casing having an arm, a member having an opening for a switch key, the wall of said opening having means for engaging a part of the arm to form an anchorage and the said arm filling a portion of the cross sectional area of said opening. a member slidable through the easing in line with the arm and in cooperative engagement therewith and adapted to enter the opening in which the arm is stationed for filling the opening and preventing disengagement of the arm from the wall of the opening, said member having a transversely disposed slot, a latch in the casing adapted to enter the said slot for holding the member in cooperative relation with the arm, means for forcing the latch out of the slot when the guard is to be removed, and means for retracting the sliding member.

2. In a guard for key holes, a casing having an arm, a member having an opening for a switch key, the Wall of said opening having means for engaging part of the arm to form an anchorage, the said arm filling a portion of the cross sectional area of said opening, an element slidable through the casing and projecting from the outer face thereof and adapted to be pushed into the opening of the member to cooperate with the arm in retaining the guard in place, said element and arm filling the cross sectional area of the said opening and preventing dislodgment of the arm from the wall of the opening, means for holding the element in cooperative relation with the arm, means for releasing the said means, and means for retracting the element.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PETER FRANCIS STRUPPLER. Witnesses:

J. Ross OOLHOUN, L. E. BARKLEY.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

